Puppet doll



E. STEIN PUPPET DOLL Sept. 11, 1956 Filed April 5, 1954 United States Patent O PUPPET DOLL Ethel Stein, Croton-on-Hudson, N. Y. Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,937 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-154) This invention relates to puppet dolls and relates more particularly to a toy in the nature of a puppet which is exceedingly llexible over its entire body and head sections so as to enable it to assume a greater variety of poses and attitudes than the usual manually manipulated puppets.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel doll in the nature of a ventriloquists dummy wherein the body and head section is formed from a single length of tubular fabric material, preferably of the knitted variety, which is closed at its upper or outer end by a transverse, internally disposed stitch line and wherein suitable internal cavities are provided, one at the upper end of the head section, for the four fingers of the manipulator, and one at the lower end thereof for the thumb to manipulate the lower jaw section of the head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple mouth structure for a puppet formed from a tube of knitted fabric wherein a portion of the outer tubular section is folded back internally of the tube and secured therein, thus forming an external cavity simulating a mouth section and a lower internal cavity constituting the jaw of the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puppet doll with a head and body section formed in simulation of either a human being or an animal and wherein a greater range of facial expression can be produced than in ordinary puppets.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of a piece of at knitted tubing used in forming the puppet and showing the two points which are joined together, one externally and one internally, to form the mouth section.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the two points so joined, thus forming the mouth opening.

The puppet of the present invention may be formed from a length of fabric tubing of a diameter suicient to admit the hand of the manipulator and of a length to simulate the head and torso sections 11 and 12 of the person or animal which the puppet is intended to simulate. A tube formed of knitted fabric 7 inches in circumference and 18 inches in length will suice for the purpose.

The outer end of the tube is first closed by a transverse stitch line 13 which is preferably disposed vertically in the finished puppet. Two registration marks 14 and 15 are now made on each side of the tube, the latter being spaced further inwardly and upwardly than the latter, and to form the mouth opening the lower portion of the closed section is folded inwardly until registration mark 14 coincides with registration mark 15 on one side of the head section and the two points are then joined by stitching or tacking the same as shown at 16. This operation is then repeated on the other side of the head section.

puppet embodying the The mouth section is thus delned by two aligned external diagonal edges 20 and internal edges 21 and 22 which form the innermost edges of the mouth cavity.

There is further provided a generally triangular section 23 for extending forwardly of edge 20 and which forms a support for a nose member 24. Eye members 25 are secured in the positions shown. The eyes and nose may be molded from sawdust with a binder of glue or plastic adhesive and they may be suitably decorated. These members can be readily cemented in place on the fabric.

To complete the puppet a wig 26 of string, wool or cotton is sewn on and a stuffed section of tubing is sewn inside the tube to form a stomach 30.

Narrow stuffed tubes 31 are sewn on the shoulder sections to form simulated arms. It will be appreciated that the stomach and arms may be eliminated if desired.

There is thus formed an external cavity 32 simulating the mouth and two internal cavities 33 and 34 one for the thumb of the manipulator and the other for the four fingers. By forming the stitching or tacking 16 at a point below the central median line of the tube the former internal cavity is smaller than the latter and the upper jaw section, which is manipulated by the four fingers, extends further forwardly than does the lower jaw section.

In View of the fact that each one of the four fingers of the manipulator may be independently moved to vary the contour of and animate the upper head section and the jaw section the puppet will have a far greater variety of facial expressions than do conventional puppets, especially since the jaws can be swung to either side in a variety of poses as well as up and down. The shape of the mouth can be varied by changing the spacing of the lingers, and the eyes and nose can be manipulated independently.

The principal feature of the invention is the novel head formation with its external and internal cavities and it will accordingly be appreciated that the external appendages such as the arms and hair as well as the pad for the stomach section may be eliminated if desired.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to one specilic application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

l claim:

l. A puppet doll formed from a length of flexible fabric tubing which is provided with a transverse line of stitching at its outer end to close the same, which stitch line is disposed vertically in the doll, the lower forward section of the tubing being folded inwardly and being stitched to the opposed side walls of the tubing at points spaced from the forward edge thereof, thus leaving a generally triangular section extending forwardly of the line of fold, which latter section forms the upper jaw section of the puppet and provides an external cavity simulating a mouth, and lower and upper internal cavities, which receive, respectively, the thumb of the manipulator for operating the lower jaw section, and the four ngers for operating the upper jaw section, a nose element secured to the triangular section and eye elements secured to the rear of the nose element and on opposite sides thereof.

2. A puppet formed from a length of flexible fabric tubing which is provided with a transverse line of stitchreceive 'the fingers of Vthe manipulator for operating the lower and upper jaw sections, a nose eleliient secured to' the forward section and eye elementsr` secured to the rear of the nose element on opposite sides thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hamley May 28, 1912 Cate Feb. 2l, 1928 

